Maintain Your Home and the Environment

When choosing
materials to improve or remodel your home, try to buy recycled products.
Using recycled products helps reduce the amount of material going
to landfills. Flooring, insulation, plastic lumber, woodwork, shingles,
and many garden/lawn products are made from recycled materials.

If your house or apartment was built before 1978, it is likely to still
have lead-based paint on walls and other surfaces. Lead in the environment
is especially harmful to children and pregnant women. Before you begin
any paint removal or remodeling projects, be sure to test for lead. You
can hire a professional to remove it or do it yourself. If you do it yourself,
spread tarps under the work area, don't work on windy days, and collect
and dispose of your paint waste in a licensed sanitary landfill.

Buy carpet made from recycled drink bottles (polyethylene terephthalate
fiber). This recycled-content carpet is durable, resists moisture and
staining, and requires no additional chemicals for its manufacture. Visit
www.ecoproducts.com
for more information.

"Greenscape" Your Landscape

In June, many of us start some kind of landscaping around our property.
You can reduce the environmental impacts of landscaping your lawn
and property by grasscycling, mulching, and composting. Properly
managing your yard waste enhances your environment and saves you
money. EPA's GreenScapes program can show professional and
amateur landscapers how. GreenScapes provides cost-efficient
and environmentally friendly solutions for large-scale landscaping
projects. The site also has some advice for homeowners.

When working around the house, use reusable rags and wipes instead of
disposable products. Reuse old milk jugs, coffee cans, or other plastic
containers to hold paint, cleaners, or other supplies. Be sure to label
and date these containers properly, and store them safely away from children
and pets.

Reuse or recycle leftover cement, gravel, and sand whenever possible.
Try not to mix up more fresh concrete or cement than you can use in a
day.

When your home is undergoing major landscape renovation, try to conduct
grading and excavating projects when chances of rain are minimal to prevent
erosion and contamination of run-off water. Cover excavated materials,
dumpsters, and stockpiles of asphalt, sand, and yard clippings to prevent
contaminants from getting into storm drains.